Twitch’s revenue is in danger as big-name advertisers like JPMorgan, AT&T, and Dunkin’ have pulled their ads from the platform. The reason? Allegations of antisemitism linked to some of Twitch’s top streamers.
In the past weeks, creators and fans could already sense a downturn of ad revenue on the platform. Bloomberg’s Cecilia D’Anastasio now confirms that major advertisers have made the decision to withdraw from Twitch.
The controversy kicked off when certain streamer communities started flagging offensive content to advertisers. At the center of the storm is Steven “Destiny” Bonnell, a political streamer who is known for his provocative takes. Although Destiny himself was banned from Twitch in 2022, his community has remained active in calling out what they see as problematic content.
This isn’t just about one streamer, though. The spotlight has also fallen on Hasan Piker, another big name in the political streaming world. Piker’s comments on Middle Eastern issues have drawn criticism and further fueled the ongoing debate about where to draw the line between free speech and hate speech on streaming platforms.
Twitch’s response to the situation has been a mixed bag. They’ve made some moves, like removing the word “Zionist” to curb antisemitic rhetoric, but many feel the platform hasn’t gone far enough in addressing the root issues.
The fallout from this “adpocalypse” could be huge for Twitch. Losing major advertisers isn’t just a financial hit but a blow to the platform’s reputation. Some are even speculating about Twitch’s future, with rumors swirling about potential sales or major shakeups.
This whole mess highlights the ongoing challenge for platforms like Twitch: how to balance open discussion with responsible content moderation. It’s a tightrope walk, and right now, Twitch seems to be wobbling.
